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This is total BS. Three times positive for cocaine would seem to me to be grounds for exclusion. As others have rightly pointed out on this forum, the guy should be seeking the help of professional therapists not professional counsel. I would hope that most people who tested postive for cocaine use would be at least temporarily denied the right to work.

"The Tour de France doesn't want Tom Boonen, but the Quick Step rider is willing to go to court to force the race to accept him. The team, however, has said that it assumes Boonen would not start in the Tour.

Boonen recently tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition control.

"We will file a complaint before the court in Paris," Boonen's attorney, Luc Deleu told the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. He said that his client has not yet heard anything official from the Tour organizers.

"Cocaine use outside of competition is not doping, no matter how you look at it," Deleu said. "If he is excluded then Boonen would be denied his right to work, based on an arbitrary decision by the Tour organiser ASO."

It's the Tour's party, and they can invite whoever they want to. Or not.

He needs to accept the fact that he's lucky to have a career and a team at all, and focus on getting his life straight. To play devil's advocate, maybe he's better off keeping busy by racing rather than having time off and being left on his own... but that doesn't seem to have worked so far.

It's the Tour's party, and they can invite whoever they want to. Or not.

He needs to accept the fact that he's lucky to have a career and a team at all, and focus on getting his life straight. To play devil's advocate, maybe he's better off keeping busy by racing rather than having time off and being left on his own... but that doesn't seem to have worked so far.

It's the Tour's party, and they can invite whoever they want to. Or not.

He needs to accept the fact that he's lucky to have a career and a team at all, and focus on getting his life straight. To play devil's advocate, maybe he's better off keeping busy by racing rather than having time off and being left on his own... but that doesn't seem to have worked so far.

If he wasn't a superstar, he would be getting on with his life's work right now. Certainly, QS would have thrown him under the bus.

Sadly, there are different rules for different people and it all comes down to money.

If he wasn't a superstar, he would be getting on with his life's work right now. Certainly, QS would have thrown him under the bus.
Sadly, there are different rules for different people and it all comes down to money.

Money or talent? This is a guy who has a legit shot at the podium.
Sure the team will be better off financially if he can win a few stages and be a contender for the podium. Sad situation any way you slice it.
I guess it comes down to my opinion that this "failed" drug test is not the same as if his failure was for takng PED's.

This is total BS. Three times positive for cocaine would seem to me to be grounds for exclusion. As others have rightly pointed out on this forum, the guy should be seeking the help of professional therapists not professional counsel. I would hope that most people who tested postive for cocaine use would be at least temporarily denied the right to work.

"The Tour de France doesn't want Tom Boonen, but the Quick Step rider is willing to go to court to force the race to accept him. The team, however, has said that it assumes Boonen would not start in the Tour.

Boonen recently tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition control.

"We will file a complaint before the court in Paris," Boonen's attorney, Luc Deleu told the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws. He said that his client has not yet heard anything official from the Tour organizers.

"Cocaine use outside of competition is not doping, no matter how you look at it," Deleu said. "If he is excluded then Boonen would be denied his right to work, based on an arbitrary decision by the Tour organiser ASO."

Cocaine is not a PED. It is not within the purview of cycling's governing body to enforce drug laws that don't pertain to the sport. Deleu is 100% correct.

Money or talent? This is a guy who has a legit shot at the podium.
Sure the team will be better off financially if he can win a few stages and be a contender for the podium. Sad situation any way you slice it.
I guess it comes down to my opinion that this "failed" drug test is not the same as if his failure was for takng PED's.

The TDF organizers successfully excluded last year's Astana team for reasons that were nebulous at best--they'll have no problem keeping Boonen out after a positive drug test. Should they do so? Probably not, but that's a whole other question.

anytime drugs or alcohols negatively impacts your life you have a problem. after one DUI you can argue that you don't have a drinking problem but if you get another....guess what?

i'm sure what boonen would love is to keep snortin and partying and have the problems go away (denial)....but it doesn't work that way.

ed rader

+1
It's not clear how severe Boonen's problem is, but I don't think that there's any doubt that he has one. He knew that he'd likely be tested, he knew that a positive test would carry terrible consequences, and yet he apparently couldn't resist.

+1It's not clear how severe Boonen's problem is, but I don't think that there's any doubt that he has one. He knew that he'd likely be tested, he knew that a positive test would carry terrible consequences, and yet he apparently couldn't resist.

severe enough to keep him out of the TDF for two years but not severe enough for his team to sack him. cocaine killed marco pantani and he also swore he had no problem. and he was a TDF champion.